TEAM CSR has returned to California from an amazing trip which covered three cities (New York, Montreal, Toronto) in 11 days. We started in New York for the Croatia-Malta match and ended it in the Big Apple with Hajduk-Dinamo. Both matches were watched at Cafe Bar Scorpio in Astoria, Queens amongst dozens of diehard Croatian fans. CSR caught up with New York Prva Generacija members Rob Uvanović, Ivica Peroš and Allen19 while finally meeting Scorpio owner, Denis Lisica, who was the trip MVP for letting CSR use his bar as if it was their own and making CSR feel right at home.
We can only encourage our readers to join us for the next trip, which, fingers crossed that everything goes well in Greece, would be Poland/Ukraine next summer.
The Toronto portion of the trip report will be released in the next week or so.
CROATIA VS. MALTA, SEPTEMBER 2ND
The Scorpio Crew for Croatia vs. Malta (from left to right) Allen19, Nicole Hazdovac, Ante Kvartuč, Denis Svirčić, Dennis Strk, Rob Uvanović
Scorpio owner Denis Lisica gets the game started with a ‘proper’ CHEERS
Ivica (center) and Krešo (right) sporting Crottenham during the match
Lisica does Croatian tennis too
Ivica pumped to be on the CSR production crew
Allen ’19’ Strk says Farewell for the day
HAJDUK VS. DINAMO, SEPTEMBER 10TH
CSR RULE #1: START EVERY GAME WITH A SHOT…
…POURED BY A BEAUTIFUL BARTENDER
SCORPIO’S READY FOR THE ‘ETERNAL DERBY’
THE BAR WAS 90% HAJDUK, 10% DINAMO- SORRY ANTE BBB
KVARTUČ WETS HIS PANTS AFTER HAJDUK SCORES OPENING GOAL
LISICA PUMPED!
AND THEN DINAMO SCORED!
SAN PEDRO’S OWN ROKO GRBIĆ (LEFT) MADE THE TRIP WITH CSR
NICOLE GETS SANDWICHED IN BETWEEN THE BOYS
ANOTHER GREAT ATMOSPHERE FROM SCORPIO’S
CROATIANSPORTS.COM COMING INTO YOUR COMPUTER SCREEN SOON! (WE MEAN IT THIS TIME)
ALLEN19 COULDN’T HANG WITH TEAM CSR…
…SO HE GOT MORE COMFORTABLE AT THE BAR
POST-GAME PARTY AT VESLO DOWN THE STREET
CHEF COOK FROM KRAPANJ, CROATIA TOOK GOOD CARE OF TEAM CSR IN ASTORIA, QUEENS, NEW YORK
KVARTUČ READY FOR SOME ĆEVAPČIĆI WHILE UVANOVIĆ EYES THE FISH
ROKO GRBIĆ PICKS APART THE FISH LIKE A VULTURE, NOTHING BUT BONE LEFT
PLETIKOSA’S FAVORITE PLATE: HOBOTNICA (OCTOPUS)
CRNI RIŽOT, FOR THOSE OF YOU PURGERI ON CSR
TORONTO TRIP REPORT COMING NEXT…
pročitajte blog o nogometu na području bivše jugoslavje..
puno zanimljivih priča o velikim utakmicama, sjajnim igračima , punim tribinama ,
velikim europskim rezultatima , namještanjima , poništenim utakmicama i prvenstvima…
dođite , čitajte i komentirajte na http://exyunogomet.blogspot.com/
Just realized I haven't wrote my two cents on New York. First, I'd like to apologize to our viewers on the extended delay of this piece. Thanks to Denis Lisica for hosting team CSR for Croatia-Malta and Dinamo-Hajduk. Thanks to Roko Grbic for joining us on this trip and putting up with Ante and I for almost two weeks. As always a pleasure hanging out with Ivica Peros("The hardest working man in New York"), Rob Uvanovic("The South African kid"), and Allen Strk(CSR's golden prospect).
Scorpio's is definitely the spot for Croatian sports in North America. This is not a shot at Toronto. You boys up there are on a different level, however, Toronto doesn't have a spot for Croatian football "as it used to" 5-10 years ago.
Veslo How could this place be bad with a chef from Krapanj? For those of you in NY, Veslo is throwing a Croatian party on Saturday night.
@Jordan,
I didn't get a chance to visit Istrian sports club or Rudar club. Heard good things about those spots. However, some of my Dalmatinci were not impressed. 🙂
@Claudio
I will make sure to stop by Veslo the next time I'm in New York. You should definitely look into advertising to make Veslo a must stop destination in New York. Yes, I know that you've been open for only a year, but a place with this type of quality should be up there with "Joso's" of Toronto. Good times. Best of luck to Veslo's.
I'm going to NYC in December. I think I'm going to check this Veslo place out. The menu looks pretty hardcore Croatian. You can even get Adriatic fish? Man, that's just unnecessary, lol.
Great pics from Scorpio and Veslo. It's too bad I missed you guys, I would have bought you a few rounds if I knew you were there. The chef at Veslo, Boris, is my father-in-law and he is from Krapanj-Brodarica kraj Sibenika. The owner's are from Zablace, also Sibenik area. Just to leave no doubt in your minds, Veslo is all Croatian. We built this place with nothing but Hrvatska in mind and wanted to give the Croatians in the tri-state area a place to call home. All the antiques in the back restaurant were shipped back from our konoba's in Hrvatska (From Sibenik to Zadar) in a container…one of many little details built into the place to bring a little bit of Croatia back to New York. It also acts as the club house for our soccer team, New York Polet SC. Thanks for coming by and supporting the place…we've been open for less than a year now so your visit was greatly appreciated. Stop by again when you're in NY and maybe we'll see some of you at Veslo for the Greece game. We're taking the bar to the next level for that game. Euro here we come!
I'm posting my second post on these blogs. Gonna push for my lineup yet again. Hopefully Bilic reads CSR and finally cuts his deadweight players like Plete, Simunic, etc. and plays the up-and-coming players.
Ante we met in LA and watched the Georgia loss together. Good times, ugh.
Jelavic (CF)
Perisic(LW), Rakitic/Kranjcar (CM), Modric (AM), Srna (RW)
Jajalo (DM)
Strinic (LB), Vida (CB), Lovren (CB), Corluka (RB)
Kelava (GK)
@ Jordan,
Whenever you decide to come, just let us know so we can clear our schedules…
@ Allen,
Nice to finally have you back on board and at 100%. Never seen someone pass put from a few beers and a couple shots before halftime. Shall I contact Guinness?
I wasn't giggling that you said I looked like Perisic, I was giggling how you said it…Pear-is-sick.
I thought you were telling me that the fruit went bad or something.
Ball's in your court big guy.
I
well done once again guys! always a pleasure having you in town! keep up the good work!
-Kreso Mustac
Great post guys! @Ante, just telling it how it is – that's the only way Team CSR rolls!
@ Kvartuc
I completely forgot you guys were coming to NYC again! Plus, with going to school full time, working basically full time and living with my gf – I really don't have as much free time as I use to. Glad to see you guys had a great time here in the Big Apple. My gf and I are actually looking into booking a trip in the Fall or Winter to CA (since I've never been to the West Coast). If we go to LA, I'll be sure to give you guys the heads up. I'm really interested to see what Hrvati Central (San Pedro) is all about too hahah.
Jota, btw, is an Istrian stew made out beans, sauerkraut, potatoes and beef or veal, seasoned with a lot of garlic. Tastes really good and will cure in indigestion in no time! hahaha
@Allen19
I never really spoke to Dennis while I was at Prep. I was only there for 2 years before I transferred out to another Catholic school in Queens. I think Dennis was in the Croatian Club too!? haha For some shit, I have a really good memory – but if you ask me what I had for dinner 2 nights ago, I'll draw a blank lol
@ Anonymous #1
We'd be lying if we said Australia wasn't on our list of places to hit up. Realistically, TEAM CSR would come 'Down Under' in summertime, late January, when the Aussie Open is going on. Where are you writing to us from?
@ Anonymous #2
Veslo is in no way Serbian. The head chef introduced himself to us and is from Krapanj, an island off of Sibenik. The hostess (gorgeous by the way) was Croatian and one of their bus boys was from Argentina. Talked a little bit of soccer with him. Marshall's is the Yugo bar in Astoria (of what I have heard and it's closed)
@ Jordan,
And where were you on this trip? We come to you and not a peep? Did we not email you? Woulda been cool to hang out…then grab some of this jota you're talking about.
Also, glad you're finding old HS friends off of CSR.
@ Ante BBB,
Gotta make sure you're paying attention buddy. And when you wear Dinamo in San Pedro, I'm sure most people think it's a Cruz Azul jersey. Dalmatinci came to Pedro, therefore it's Hajduk town…nothing more, nothing less. I have a physical challenge for you as well.
CSR will be creating a team to compete in the Malibu Mud Run one Sunday in November. Last year you told me you could beat me in a 100-meter dash. Well here's where your conditioning starts. Interested?
@ Allen and Ivica,
We give you guys shit for passing out and not knowing that Rakitic wasn't even on the squad, but the time we spent with you during this trip (with Rob Uvanovic as well) was priceless. I'm so happy that CSR is not only creating content and soccer talk, but it's also forming friendships across the continent. Thanks for being good sports!
@ Rob Uvanovic,
"Here at the Scorpio. It's 3 'o clock…and TEAM CSR is pretty drunk!"
My line of the trip!
Jerseycro, TONS of Dinamo fans up in Canada. Especially in Toronto and Hamilton, Stoney Creek is BBB central. Imagine my surprise when the Dinamo himna came on and the entire place went insane. That just doesn't happen in the US.
most of the Dinamo fans in a disapora are the ones who stayed in Europe, and surprisingly there are many in Australia, I know Bogut is one. In the US/Canada there are few
I'm surprised there were even "10%" at Scorpio's. At the Cro picnic I maybe only saw 1-2 Dinamo fans in my times going there, but then again most people wear the NT shirt
Of course I will admit that. It's happened to me once before. I didn't think we get on the house service. When Croatia beat Malta, we got beers and shots coming out like nothing. I thought no way that would happen again, the exact same thing happened.
LOL on Kvartuc, I knew something was wrong with him. When I told him he looked like Persic's twin, he got all giggly and happy.
But you have to admit that was a rookie error: drinking on an empty stomach. No bueno, that is of course unless Kvartuc was there and was handing you the shots to get frisky. He is a little flirt, esp. towards men.
Ante B..been there done that. St pattys day Jameson was flowing down. All I need is a good meal and ill chug all day.
Allen, chillax man. I wasn't calling you out. Hence the smilie I left. And what? If I posted my name, what would you do? BTW, the amount of booze you describe would be my breakfast or a light snack, FWIW. But this article isn't about you or me, bro.
Up one place:
http://www.fifa.com/worldfootball/ranking/index.html
"Rakitic cause he's hungry, ah now the strikes over in Spain." LOL !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Brilliant!
Allen,
I drank an entire bottle of Jameson when I was with the guys down in So Cal. My advice: man up.
Well this was so awesome to be a part of. Great article here and this was so fun to read. The interviews were great and funny, Ivica will forever be remembered for the Rakitic error (unbelievable). Quote of the year and this should be on the next T-Shirt
"Are you a hard working man, I'm a hard drinking man" LOL I couldn't stop laughing at that. Dennis the owner is the greatest and yes everyone should check out Scorpicos for games if your in town. You will get a great atmosphere, great fans, great beer, and you also can meet me as well :p.
@Anyomonus…great job calling me out with that name idiot. Next time guys you should put my stat sheet up of drinks before you post that. I drank about six shots and six Karlavachos on no lunch and four house of sleep. My bet is you be in a coma if you tried that.
Jordan Armada, I am cracking up right now. Dennis Strk isn't on the site but I am his brother. That is him and yes he did go to Prep.
andddddddddd also haha
Dennis Strk – did you go to high school at Sr. Francis Prep in Fresh Meadows, Queens? You look familiar and so does you're name…
Oh and the Serbian spot you're probably thinking of in Astoria is 'Marshall' which offers 'ex-Yugoslav' cusinine
Veslo ISN'T Serbian owned. It's Dalmatian owned and has a Istrian cook. Shame on me for not having tried out the food at Veslo yet (I moved a year ago and I'm now a 10 minute walk..ha), all your dishes looked great, especially the seared octopus.
I haven't been to Scorps in a couple of years now, but I remember it being a little more dingy and seedier (I've caught the last 6-7 NT games at Veslo). However judging by your videos, I think I'm gonna head there for our showdown vs. the Greeks. Seems like the cleaned up the place a bit and renovated. I just have memories of getting really shitty in there, before I was 21 and running into a buddy of my dads (had to of been 17 or so), getting a weird look from him, then both laughing and bs'ing for a bit.
Did you guys make it to any of the Istrian spots in Astoria? Istria Sports Club, Rudar Club? A hot plate of jota would of set you Dalmatinci straight 😉
Also Ivica, what's up with that jersey bro? Everytime I've seen you on this site, it's that same kit from WC 2006. I have kits going from 1998-2011, so if you ever wanna change it up one of these days, lemme know 😉
Sorry Ante BBB? 90% Hajduk, 10% Dinamo. Isn't that basically America? The only cities that can rival that would be Chicago, Cleveland and LA (not Pedro, but LA). Other than that, no reason to apologize since it's expected. You're talking to the guy who openly wears Dinamo blue through the white streets of Dalmac…errr..Pedro.
Looks like you had a great time. Allen, you have a girly liver, my friend. 😀
http://www.veslonyc.com/about.asp
Isn't VESLO a Serbian restaurant?
you guys need to come to australia lol 😀